Berg, (Carl) Natanael

Berg, (Carl) Natanael, Swedish composer; b. Stockholm, Feb. 9, 1879; d. there, Oct. 14, 1957. He was a pupil of Julius Günther (voice) and J.Lindegren (counterpoint) at the Stockholm Cons. (1897–1900), but was essentially autodidact in composition; held state composer’s fellowships for further studies in Berlin and Paris (1908–09), and in Vienna (1911–12); also took a degree in veterinary medicine (1902) and served as a veterinary surgeon in the Swedish Army until 1939. In 1918 he helped to found the Soc. of Swedish Composers, serving as its chairman until 1924. In 1932 he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. His music is indulgent, reminiscent in its tumescent harmonies of Richard Strauss.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera (all first perf. in Stockholm): Leila (1910; Feb. 29, 1912); Engelbrekt (1928; Sept. 21, 1929); Judith (1935; Feb. 22, 1936); Brigitta (1941; Jan. 10, 1942); Genoveva (1944–46; Oct. 25, 1947). Pantomime Ballet: Alvorna (1914); Sensitiva (1919); Hertiginnans friare (The Duchesse’s Suitors; 1920). ORCH.: symphonic poems: Traumgewalten (1910); Varde ljus! (1914); Reverenza (1949); 5 syms.: No. 1, Alies endet was entstehet (1913), No. 2, Arstiderna (The Tides; 1916), No. 3, Makter (Power; 1917), No. 4, Pezzo sinfonico (1918; rev. 1939), and No. 5, Trilogia delle passioni (1922); Violin Concerto (1918); Serenade for Violin and Orch. (1923); Suite (1930); Piano Concerto (1931). CHAMBER: Piano Quintet (1917); 2 string quartets (1917, 1919). VOCAL: Saul och David for Baritone and Orch. (1907); Eros’ vrede (Love’s Wrath) for Baritone and Orch. (1911); Mannen och kvinnan (Man and Woman) for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1911); Predikaren (The Preacher) for Baritone and Orch. (1911); Israels lovsâng (Israel’s Hymns), for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1915); Hoga Visan (The Song of Solomon) for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1925); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire